Hospital says Dutch doctor impregnated multiple patients with his own sperm

A former gynecologist in the Netherlands has fathered at least 16 children by impregnating his patients without their knowledge or consent.

Key Takeaways:

• Rijnstate Hospital confirmed that Alexander Schmoutziguer impregnated patients using his own sperm and fathered at least 16 children.

• He also used donor sperm on at least one occasion, without the man's knowledge or consent.

• These cases are increasingly coming to light, with fertility doctors being found to have fathered children by impregnating their female patients in secret.

The Details:

In the 1970s and 1980s, Alexander Schmoutziguer was found to have impregnated multiple patients at what was then known as Elisabeth Gasthuis Hospital (now Rjinstate). According to local media reports, the former gynecologist treated patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a time frame in which only three doctors were providing fertility treatments.

While it is not known what sperm he was supposed to use, Schmoutziguer used his own sperm and unknown donor sperm without his patients' knowledge or consent. It's alleged that the man whose sperm was used did not consent to its use, either.

"We discussed this with all the gynecologists, as far as they are still alive from that time," Rijnstate executive Hans Schoo said, confirming that only Schmoutziguer engaged in such behavior.

Zoom Out:

With the rise of online DNA testing, increasing numbers of families have discovered their fertility doctor used his own sperm to impregnate women. This fertility fraud is disturbingly common, particularly among patients who sought help conceiving in the 1970s and 1980s.

These are just a handful of known fertility fraud cases; there are many more:

• A Detroit doctor was found to have fathered hundreds of children.

• Another pair of doctors has fathered 75 children between them.

• David Claypool was sued by an Idaho woman after a DNA test revealed that her daughter is Claypool's biological child.

• Jos Beek, a Dutch doctor, inseminated patients with his own sperm and fathered at least 21 children.

• A woman who took an at-home DNA test learned that her biological father was her parents’ fertility doctor, Philip Peven, who had thrown away the sperm provided to him by the couple and used his own instead.

• In 2022, a federal court jury in Vermont awarded a woman damages after her fertility doctor used his own sperm to impregnate her.

The Bottom Line:

Despite constant abuses and scandals, the fertility industry is still largely unregulated, and the wants and desires of adults are given priority over the rights of children.